Bio

COACHINGJim Skipper returned to Carolina in 2013 after working as the running backs coach for the Tennessee Titans from 2011-12. Since Week 6 of 2014, Carolina has produced 27 consecutive regular season games with at least 100 rushing yards, the longest such streak in the NFL since the Pittsburgh Steelers tallied 43 consecutive from 1974-77 seasons.

In 2015, Skipper's backs helped the Panthers rank second in the NFL with 142.6 rushing yards per game, the highest ranking in team history. Under Skipper's guidance, fullback Mike Tolbert earned his second career Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, and running back Jonathan Stewart earned his first Pro Bowl selection after finishing with a team-leading 989 rushing yards with six touchdowns on a career-high 242 carries as Carolina advanced to Super Bowl 50 and set team records with an NFL-leading 500 points and 59 touchdowns and a team-record 357 first downs.

In 2014, Skipper's position group was hit hard by injuries as four different players started games at running back, and fullback Mike Tolbert was lost for eight games in the middle of the season. However, Skipper kept his group together, and Stewart emerged as one of the NFL's best backs down the stretch. In the season's final five games, Stewart rushed for 486 yards, the second most in the NFL. The Panthers finished seventh in the NFL in rushing with 2,036 yards, averaging 185.0 yards per game in the last seven games including the playoffs.

In each of Skipper's two years with the Titans, running back Chris Johnson surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground, giving Skipper eight different 1,000-yard rushers in his 28 seasons as an NFL coach.

Skipper previously served as the Panthers' running backs coach from 2002-10 in addition to being assistant head coach for the final five years. During Skipper's tenure, Carolina's running game thrived despite using 10 different starting halfbacks. Three players (Stephen Davis, DeAngelo Williams and Stewart) reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark, and eight (Dee Brown, Davis, DeShaun Foster, Nick Goings, Mike Goodson, Lamar Smith, Stewart and Williams) produced at least one 100-yard rushing game.

In 2009, Stewart and Williams became the first set of teammates in NFL history to each rush for more than 1,100 yards in the same season as the Panthers set a franchise record and finished third in the NFL with 2,498 yards. Stewart led the way with 1,133 yards, the third-highest total in team history, while Williams became the first player in team history to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and earned his first Pro Bowl selection after compiling 1,117 yards.

A year earlier, Williams set team records with 1,515 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, and Stewart established a team rookie record with 836 yards and notched 10 touchdowns to propel Carolina to a ranking of third in the NFL in rushing yards. Along the way, they became the first Panthers to both gain 100 yards in the same game, accomplishing the feat versus Detroit and versus Tampa Bay en route to a team single-game record 299-yard performance.

However, Skipper's best effort may have come in 2004 when Carolina started four different halfbacks because of injuries. Over the last eight games, Goings, a former undrafted free agent, recorded five 100-yard outings. That came after a 2003 season in which Skipper helped the Panthers to 2,091 rushing yards and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII, while Davis earned Pro Bowl honors with 1,444 yards, the second most in team history.

Skipper originally came to Carolina after spending four years with the New York Giants from 1997-2000 and serving as head coach of the XFL's San Francisco Demons in 2001. In his first season with New York, the Giants finished seventh in the NFL in rushing. The next year, Gary Brown ground out 1,063 yards, and Tiki Barber followed with 1,006 yards in 2000.

Skipper began his NFL coaching career as running backs coach with the New Orleans Saints in 1986, coaching there through 1995. During his 10 years with New Orleans, Skipper coached two Pro Bowlers, Rueben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard. Mayes' 1,353 yards in 1986 and Hilliard's 1,262 in 1989 still stand among the top five totals in Saints history.

In 1996, Skipper coached one season with Arizona. Under his direction, fullback Larry Centers rushed for 425 yards and led all NFL running backs with 99 receptions for 766 yards to earn Pro Bowl honors.

Skipper entered coaching as the defensive backs coach at Cal Poly-Pomona in 1974 before joining San Jose State in 1977. He switched to offense as running backs coach at Pacific in 1979 and then coached at Oregon from 1980-82. Skipper made his foray into the professional coaching ranks with the USFL's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars from 1983-85.

PLAYING AND PERSONALA graduate of Whittier College, Skipper played defensive back and also served as a kick and punt returner for the Poets. Born in Breaux Bridge, La., he grew up in Brawley, Calif.

COACHINGJim Skipper returned to Carolina in 2013 after working as the running backs coach for the Tennessee Titans from 2011-12. Since Week 6 of 2014, Carolina has produced 27 consecutive regular season games with at least 100 rushing yards, the longest such streak in the NFL since the Pittsburgh Steelers tallied 43 consecutive from 1974-77 seasons.

In 2015, Skipper's backs helped the Panthers rank second in the NFL with 142.6 rushing yards per game, the highest ranking in team history. Under Skipper's guidance, fullback Mike Tolbert earned his second career Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, and running back Jonathan Stewart earned his first Pro Bowl selection after finishing with a team-leading 989 rushing yards with six touchdowns on a career-high 242 carries as Carolina advanced to Super Bowl 50 and set team records with an NFL-leading 500 points and 59 touchdowns and a team-record 357 first downs.

In 2014, Skipper's position group was hit hard by injuries as four different players started games at running back, and fullback Mike Tolbert was lost for eight games in the middle of the season. However, Skipper kept his group together, and Stewart emerged as one of the NFL's best backs down the stretch. In the season's final five games, Stewart rushed for 486 yards, the second most in the NFL. The Panthers finished seventh in the NFL in rushing with 2,036 yards, averaging 185.0 yards per game in the last seven games including the playoffs.

In each of Skipper's two years with the Titans, running back Chris Johnson surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground, giving Skipper eight different 1,000-yard rushers in his 28 seasons as an NFL coach.

Skipper previously served as the Panthers' running backs coach from 2002-10 in addition to being assistant head coach for the final five years. During Skipper's tenure, Carolina's running game thrived despite using 10 different starting halfbacks. Three players (Stephen Davis, DeAngelo Williams and Stewart) reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark, and eight (Dee Brown, Davis, DeShaun Foster, Nick Goings, Mike Goodson, Lamar Smith, Stewart and Williams) produced at least one 100-yard rushing game.

In 2009, Stewart and Williams became the first set of teammates in NFL history to each rush for more than 1,100 yards in the same season as the Panthers set a franchise record and finished third in the NFL with 2,498 yards. Stewart led the way with 1,133 yards, the third-highest total in team history, while Williams became the first player in team history to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and earned his first Pro Bowl selection after compiling 1,117 yards.

A year earlier, Williams set team records with 1,515 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, and Stewart established a team rookie record with 836 yards and notched 10 touchdowns to propel Carolina to a ranking of third in the NFL in rushing yards. Along the way, they became the first Panthers to both gain 100 yards in the same game, accomplishing the feat versus Detroit and versus Tampa Bay en route to a team single-game record 299-yard performance.

However, Skipper's best effort may have come in 2004 when Carolina started four different halfbacks because of injuries. Over the last eight games, Goings, a former undrafted free agent, recorded five 100-yard outings. That came after a 2003 season in which Skipper helped the Panthers to 2,091 rushing yards and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII, while Davis earned Pro Bowl honors with 1,444 yards, the second most in team history.

Skipper originally came to Carolina after spending four years with the New York Giants from 1997-2000 and serving as head coach of the XFL's San Francisco Demons in 2001. In his first season with New York, the Giants finished seventh in the NFL in rushing. The next year, Gary Brown ground out 1,063 yards, and Tiki Barber followed with 1,006 yards in 2000.

Skipper began his NFL coaching career as running backs coach with the New Orleans Saints in 1986, coaching there through 1995. During his 10 years with New Orleans, Skipper coached two Pro Bowlers, Rueben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard. Mayes' 1,353 yards in 1986 and Hilliard's 1,262 in 1989 still stand among the top five totals in Saints history.

In 1996, Skipper coached one season with Arizona. Under his direction, fullback Larry Centers rushed for 425 yards and led all NFL running backs with 99 receptions for 766 yards to earn Pro Bowl honors.

Skipper entered coaching as the defensive backs coach at Cal Poly-Pomona in 1974 before joining San Jose State in 1977. He switched to offense as running backs coach at Pacific in 1979 and then coached at Oregon from 1980-82. Skipper made his foray into the professional coaching ranks with the USFL's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars from 1983-85.

PLAYING AND PERSONALA graduate of Whittier College, Skipper played defensive back and also served as a kick and punt returner for the Poets. Born in Breaux Bridge, La., he grew up in Brawley, Calif.